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New Outragious microbe research

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Pawnfart

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Message 1 of 702
, Jan 19, 2002

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For full text and graphics
visit:<br><a href=http://ens-news.com/ens/jan2002/2002L-01-18-09.html target=new>http://ens-news.com/ens/jan2002/2002L-01-18-09.html</a><br><br>MUD MICROBES CAN GENERATE ELECTRICITY<br><br>AMHERST,
Massachusetts, January 18, 2002 (ENS) - Certain microorganisms
can transform organic matter found at the bottom of
the ocean into electrical energy, researchers at the
University of Massachusetts have learned. <br><br>The
microbiologists who discovered the process say that the microbes
could someday be used to produce power for unmanned
submarines or underwater sensing devices. The findings also
have implications for many industrial and military
applications, says Derek Lovley, leader of the UMass team.
<br><br>An understanding of how microbes generate and use
electrical energy may also prompt the development of new
technologies to decontaminate polluted water and sediment
containing organic materials, including petroleum and other
aromatic hydrocarbons, Lovley said. <br><br>In an article
in this week's issue of the journal "Science,"
Lovley explains how the team used water and sediment
from Boston Harbor, a collection of mason jars,
ordinary electrical wiring, and graphite electrodes to
determine the science behind the mechanics of a simple,
sediment battery. <br><br>The researchers added a layer of
mud to water in the jars, put one graphite electrode
in the mud, another in the overlying water. The
resulting electrical current was strong enough to activate
a lightbulb, or a simple computer. <br><br>"Even
using a primitive electrode made from graphite," Lovley
said, "it is possible to produce enough current to
power basic electronic marine instruments."
<br><br>Through more refined experiments, Lovley's group found
that a family of energy harvesting microorganisms,
called Geobacters, were key to the production of the
electrical current. Most life forms get their energy by
oxidizing organic compounds with oxygen, but Geobacters can
grow in environments lacking oxygen by using the iron
present in soil. <br><br>The new research demonstrates
that Geobacters can also substitute an unnatural
substance, such as an electrode, for the iron, Lovley
explained. <br><br>"In the mud, a community of
microorganisms cooperates to break down larger, more complex
organic compounds to acetate," Lovley said. "Geobacters
then transfer the electrons from the acetate to the
electrode generating the electrical energy."
<br><br>Lovley's group also has found that some Geobacters can
convert toxic organic compounds, such as toluene, to
electricity. Lovley says this suggests that some Geobacters
could be used to harvest energy from waste matter, or
to clean up organic contaminants such as petroleum.
<br><br>"Once we know more about the genome of Geobacters, we
will be able to manipulate these organisms to make
them receptive to a variety of organic or inorganic
contaminants," added Lovley. "Theoretically, when they begin to
degrade the contaminant, they will throw electrons on an
electrode, and that could set off a light, a sound or some
other form of signal." <br><br>Such technology could
lead to military equipment that could alert soldiers
to the presence of toxins or biological warfare
agents in the immediate environment, he added.
<br><br>"An understanding of how this phenomenon operates has
a number of extremely timely applications,
especially in developing technologies to recognize toxins
and organic contaminants," Lovley concluded.

b1blancer_29501

On Feb 28th, the Interplanetary Magnetic Field swung to a strong south-pointing orientation. That, coupled with an elevated solar wind speed and density,

Message 702 of 702
, Mar 1 9:47 PM

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On Feb 28th, the Interplanetary Magnetic Field
swung to a strong south-pointing orientation. That,
coupled with an elevated solar wind speed and density,
triggered a G-1 class geomagnetic storm. The result was
some high latitude aurora. See this link for a
photgraph of aurora observed over Quebec :
<a href=http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/images/01mar02/Moussette2.jpg target=new>http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/images/01mar02/Moussette2.jpg</a> . As of right now, there are 3 sunspot regions,
namely 9839, 9842, and 9845, that appear to be capable
of producing M-class flares. Regions 9839 and 9842
are close to rotating out of view over the western
limb of the solar disk. Sunspot region 9845, however,
is close to the sun's central meridian. A rather
large coronal hole is also approaching the sun's
central meridian, and coming into an Earth-pointing
position. High speed colar wind gusts are likely around the
first of next week.<br><br>The current solar and
geomagnetic conditions are :<br><br>NOAA sunspot number :
153<br>SFI : 188<br>A index : 10<br>K index : 1<br><br>Solar
wind speed : 372.3 km/sec<br>Solar wind density : 4.4
protons/cc<br>Solar wind pressure : 1.1 nPa<br><br>IMF : 8.4
nT<br>IMF Orientation : 0.7 nT North<br><br>Conditions for
the last 24 hours : <br>Solar activity was low. The
geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Stratwarm Alert
exists Friday.<br><br>Forecast for the next 24 hours
:<br>Solar activity will be low to moderate. The geomagnetic
field will be quiet to unsettled.<br><br>Solar Activity
Forecast :<br>Solar activity is expected to be low to
moderate for the next three days. Region 9845 is a
possible source for isolated M-class
flares.<br><br>Geomagnetic activity forecast :<br>Geomagnetic field activity
is expected to be mainly quiet to unsettled, until
the onset of high speed stream effects from a
recurrent coronal hole begin to develop by day three of the
forecast period. Isolated active conditions are
anticipated thereafter.<br><br>Recent significant solar flare
activity :<br>None

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